Research Projects Currently under Review

Investigating the Relationship between Altitude and Progression of MS Disease using Geospatial and Statistical Methods
National Multiple Sclerosis Society - pilot study
PI: Benjamin Honigman, MD

The North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) established a MS patient registry in 1993 for the U.S., which now contains information on 31,800 MS patients, many of whom have been tracked for over 10 years.

According to NARCOMS, of the 132 active patients in Colorado who have consistently reported their data over the last 4 years or longer, 119 (90%) have had 1 or more relapses. Corresponding numbers for Missouri are 87 with consistent reporting and 78 (86%) with 1 or more relapses and for Maryland 60/78 (77%).

By integrating the NARCOMS database into a geographic information system (GIS) and evaluating with spatial and statistical techniques, we propose to determine: 
1) the prevalence of MS in Colorado compared to Missouri and Maryland - low altitude states along the same latitude as Colorado, and
2) to determine whether the progression of MS is different in those individuals living at various altitudes.